Rafael Nadal
The knee injuries suffered by Rafael Nadal and, most recently, Gael Monfils make us question again why it is that tennis players continue to put themselves under strain while injured?
Nadal continues to encounter real problems with his knee injury, and this has been ongoing for years now.
Equally, Monfils never seems to get the problems with his knee addressed, and this is causing real long-term issues for his fitness.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga continues to battle through pain with his fingers, while David Ferrer struggles on with a fever.
With the circuit taking such a strain on the players, what should they do to combat injuries and ensure that ongoing problems are addressed?
There is a big question that we must all confront in the game: when should players stop and take a rest when they are struggling?
Nadal is a very good example of a player who has continued to play while being very seriously injured. It is now having a big impact.
We can also talk about Del Potro, who played at the Australian Open with tendinitis in his wrist.
As a result, the Argentine then had to take a year off, and was forced to undergo two surgeries because of the problem.
It is the job of the medical staff to assess potential hazards for players, but it is also up to the stars to be responsible with their own health and fitness.
Minor injuries are common and almost inevitable, but players should not allow themselves to battle through recurring or more serious issues.
Playing with an injury can sometimes be stupid because you win in the short term, but lose very significantly in the long term, as we have seen.
Almost every player has some pain when approaching a big tournament. These pains are sometimes mild or related to the stress of competition.
The great challenge that faces the players and their coaches and staff, is to know the difference between fleeting pain and real injury.
Most players have issues with their shoulders because of the stress the game puts on that area of the body, and the back and knees are also very common problem areas.
Not to mention the ankles, which come under enormous stress due to terrible twists and sharp turns, particularly when the player is already fatigued.
I remember Andy Murray, who had made a spectacular recovery at the Australian Open a few years ago.
It was very impressive at the time, and I would never have imagined that he could continue to play, and strapping managed to get him through.
But playing on despite the injury may well have caused long-term damage, and it is simply not worth it in the context of his career.